It's hard to explain the relationship I have with my mother. I'm an only child and she's been a single parent since I was about 6. She made the choice to keep even after finding out that my father was unfit and she would have to raise me by herself with no financial support. Its been me and her for as long as I can remember. I feel like I owe her a lot, but as many of you have urged, not control over my life or hair.
Honestly what some of you are saying is a strange concept to me, my mother has always made it clear that as long as I'm under her roof I'm to do as she says and I guess there's a part of me that still hasn't grown up yet. I would feel differently if I were on my own and providing for myself, but again, it's my hair and it grows from my scalp.

But anywho, here's what I plan to do based on your suggestions:

- Show her some youtube videos of women straightening their natural hair
- Show her some professional styles I can wear without straightening my hair
- Scratch my scalp on a regular basis and tell her I'll die if she gives me a perm

By wild I mean shoulder length/bsl 4a&4b hair flying all over my head (do you measure the length by when it's wet or when it's dry? ). The bigger the better During an especially busy week, I like to wake up for class looking like a frazzled lion and just leave it how it wants to be.

Thank you all dearly for telling me what I needed to hear!